The countdown has begun!

It's been a while since my last update on the site. Let's hope I'll find more time and energy to update this blog more often while I'm on my way to exotic locations ;-).

A few major things happened in the past few months.

1. Moving out.

I moved out of my apartment. I'm living with my parents again, which is quite a change I can say. Living by certain 'house rules' of my parents I'm not used to anymore since I moved out 5 years ago, are all of a sudden confrontating me again. It's not that it's unbearable, ofcourse not, its just, well... let's say it asks a certain change of a lifestyle attitude in some areas :D.

The most weird part is, that my apartment is all empty and ready to be rented again. Since I rented my apartment through my job (real estate) its part of my job also to rent apartments to people. which leads to showing people around in - what used to be my - apartment. Quite strange, but also a clear sign my trip is coming up in a matter of just weeks now.

2. Booking flights and visas

I booked all my flights for the first stage of the trip. Which means my flights from Amsterdam to London and from London to Moscow. Also my traintickets are under process now, so also that will be arranged within short terms. Last week I filled in all the obligated forms for my visa's for Russia, Mongolia and China. The agency I booked my train trip with, will also take care of the visa procedure, so no extra stress for me there. With this sorted out, I now know the exact date I'm leaving Holland. 7th of september 2010 6.15 pm. So exciting.

3. Tools and gear

I bought most of the equipment for my trip already. Besides 'survival tools' like mini flashlights, universal rechargers and small sleepingpillows I also bought a kick-ass photocamera and a mini-laptop on which I currently typing this blog. My parents chipped in some cash - yeah they are such sweet people sometimes ;-) - for my camera, so I bought the 'special' travelers camera from Panasonic. Take a look at the gears and tool section for more info. The only thing left to buy now, is a good back-pack and a mosquito net, to prevent myself being stung by (malaria) mosquito's.

4. Vaccinations

Speaking of malaria. I also got vaccinated again 2 weeks ago. So with the new vaccinates and the few I already got for my trip to Thailand last year, I should be safe for most common diseases and dangers all the foreign countries have to offer :D. I'm also taking special malaria pills as a 'try out'. If  in 3 weeks I dont got mad or have become a psychopath, Im getting a full load of the stuff which will last long enough for my trip.

5. Rendez-vous with Cees

My friend Cees!

My good friend Cees, has returned from his amazing world-trip a few weeks ago. He was gone for 6 months as well, so it was so cool to see him again. The stories he told me were absolutely awesome and they got me even more excited for my departure and confirmed that I made the right decision to plan this trip :-)!

It is official!

It is official! I put down the deposit for my train tickets from Moscow to Beijing. So basicly there is no way back anymore! September the 14th my train will leave from Moscow. The first stop after I boarded the train that day, will be after 4 days. (4 days non-stop in a train... aaaarghhhh :-)) After 4 days I'm stopping in "Irkutsk" - Russia,  from where I'll get a transfer to the famous  Lake Baikal (Baikal meer) which should be quite impressive. Have a look this page for more info.



I'll be staying 1 day at Lake Baikal and after that I get a transfer back to Irkutsk where I also will be spending a day and a night. From there my train trip will continue to "Ulaan Baatar" - Mongolia. Which takes me another 2 days by train, through the rough country of Siberia. This trip counts as one of the most 'exciting and beautifull routes' one can take, so it's quite obvious I'm really looking forward to it! When I'm in Ulaan Baatar I'll stay two nights in a Ger Camp in a national park, which I think means sleeping in a tent between the Yaks :-). After that I will spend another day in Ulaan Baatar, a city one can compare with Yakutsk. Finally I need to spend another 2 days in the train, before I would have reached Beijing. And from there, I still have a 'carte blanche'.  I have no idea what to do next, besides traveling south. I'll probably spend a few days there, getting some rest and enjoying this massive city! Figure out the next stops and destinations.

I'm planning to get a flight september 6th to London. Visit my dear friend Kara (and her sister) first and say her goodbye! After that I'll take a flight to Moscow and spend a few days there as well before I take my train from Moscow.

Moscow should have great clubs, which I can't wait to check out ;-). oh yeah and probably I'll do some sightseeing too :-).

For now, I'm preparing all the things for the trip. I will arrange my applications for my visa's very soon and I already started to buy the gear and tools for my trip! Anyway.....Im f*cking excited!

Cheers B.